Welcome back to “Outtakes,” where I share my latest interviews, opinions on various TV & film trends, and my latest pop culture obsessions. To kick things off this week, I spent a lot of time digging into all things animated TV.
After chatting with Gabe Liedman about creating Q-Force, the upcoming LGBTQ spy series on Netflix, I then hopped on the phone with Gary Janetti, who turned his popular Prince George Instagram account into the HBO Max animated series The Prince.
And ahead of Archer’s return with season 12, marking Jessica Walter’s final performance as Malory, I spoke with the cast and producers about her lasting impact on the series.
While everyone shared tons of funny memories about spending time with Walter, what I was most surprised to learn was how Judi Dench’s M led to the core mother-son theme of the spy parody.
According to creator Adam Reed, it was her James Bond character that inspired what Archer would eventually become. “I was like, ‘Oh, what if M was James Bond’s mom? That could be really weird,’” he recalls. “That’s when the show sort of clicked for me, and started becoming something that wasn’t just a James Bond knockoff.”
Finally, I’m not sure if I’m the only one, but I’ve found myself obsessed with restoration shows about converting forgotten or derelict roadside motels into boutique getaways.
Perhaps its residual love for Schitt’s Creek, which saw the Rose family shacking up in a the titular town’s local motel, or desire to take road trips again following a year of quarantine caused by the coronavirus pandemic, but I can’t get enough of these series.
And thankfully, there’s a few decent options to quench my need for seeing motels made over again and again. (Though, I welcome more if this trend continues to expand.)
Inn the Works (Discovery+/Magnolia Network)
Owner Lindsey Kurowski and her siblings reunite as they renovate the historic Oak Knoll Lodge in Big Bear Lake, California, with hopes of bringing it back to its former glory.
Motel Makeover (Netflix)
Two entrepreneurs (aka Instagram influencers) look to expand their empire by renovating an out-of-date beachside motel in Ontario. Just as renovations get underway — and all the pink paint cans get popped — COVID-19 hits.
(Re)Motel (Discovery+/Magnolia Network)
Each episode features interviews with owners across America, who recount how they restored and redesigned their historic properties, making them ready for a new generation of roadtrippers.
Quick Takes:
To wrap things up, I wanted to quickly highlight my conversations with three of this year’s Emmy nominees for ET’s annual “Standout Performances:”
Aunjanue Ellis, who talks about Hippolyta’s journey of Lovecraft Country and her shock over the series’ unexpected cancelation
Carl Clemons-Hopkins, who discusses their breakout role on Hacks, their hopes for season 2, and their upcoming role in Candyman
Evan Peters, who opens up about making WandaVision and Mare of Easttown and why he wants the latter to return for another season